Are you thinking of starting your own photography business, but wondering if you are ready to take the plunge and start charging for your work? I'm going to talk about some of the things that I personally think you should have in place, and be able to do, before you start charging for your skills.

Thinking about starting a photography business and not sure what you need to get started? Then check out this article with the 5 things you'll definitely want to have in place.

If you are a stay-at-home parent and a photographer,, and you'd like to be able to make a side income from your skills, then this video is for you!

Being able to contribute to the household finances, do something creative, and have something all of my own was SO important to me after I gave up my corporate job to become a stay at home mom, and this might just be you too.

We live in an age where everything we do is shared across a multitude of platforms online. From our websites to social media accounts and everything in between, we’re sharing our intellectual property with the world.

Surely, as a photographer, that’s good for business?

Well, yes, it is. But it also puts your work at risk of being stolen and redistributed by unauthorized persons.

Our industry depends on our ability to produce unique works of art, and we cannot risk an intellectual rights battle with thieves and hackers. The good old right click “Save As” function can cause untold destruction on your business.

So, how can you protect yourself from theft? And more importantly, how do you protect your work?

Knowing how to price your photography business can be downright tricky at first, and it’s one of the biggest, and most common questions I get asked - both by new business owners, and those that have been charging for a while.

When you first start your photography business, you can easily find yourself at a total loss at what might be a fair price to charge, or simply feel nervous that you’re either over-priced, or not charging enough!

It’s SO important to price your photography services and products right, so on today’s episode we’re talking about 3 photography pricing mistakes you’re probably making - aaaaand most importantly, what you should do instead.

Making sure that you don’t make these mistakes will set you up on the right path to making a profit - which, after all, is the purpose of a business!

Thinking about starting a photography business but not sure what you should focus on first?

Then you are not alone! There are many different paths you can take, tasks you need to complete, and clients you need to find. And when you’re not sure what you need to focus on, it can stop you from moving forward as you feel overwhelmed and frustrated.

Which is why I think you’re going to love this week’s episode!

I’m giving you 5 key areas you should focus on when you’re starting a photography business - the ones that will help make sure that you are a success.

If you want to make this the year you start and maintain a profitable business that you love, this episode is a must watch!

Do you go back and forth in your head, thinking to yourself: "Am I actually ready to start my own photography business? When can I start charging for my skills?"

Then you are not alone!

This "When can I charge" question is one I get asked a lot, so that's why today I'm going to walk you through some of the things I personally think you should have in hand before you start your own photography business.  My goal is to help you start to think strategically about whether you are ready - and if you aren't, what you can do about it - rather than relying simply on how long you have been photographing or some other arbitrary figure.  

That's because there is no hard and fast length of time you need to be shooting for before you start charging. It could be six months, it could a year, or even five. Everyone learns at a different pace, puts in a different amount of time and effort, and has different levels of confidence about taking on paid clients.

Today I've got a case study for you that I think you are going to LOVE! I asked Live Snap Love student Whitney Charles to come on the blog to share her story with you, because she has moved forward SO far in such a short period of time. She's come from being a complete beginner in Spring 2017, to having her own photography business (and taking amazing images to boot) a mere 12 months later.  I've been following her progress with awe, so I'm delighted to welcome her to the blog today. In this post she's sharing with you what she did, what challenges she faced, and what she wished she had done differently. Plus there is a heap of then / now images so you can see the difference in her images. I think you will find it incredibly valuable and inspirational, so let's dig in!

Did you recently start to take photos of people OTHER than your family?  Yes? Then, let me guess how you felt.....

You found yourself getting more and more flustered, unsure of what you should be doing next, worrying that you haven't got any good shots and feeling like you really needed to hurry things along because you were really taking too long getting your settings right.

Did that sound at all familiar? I bet it did! Most people when starting out have those exact same feelings: like we are being judged by how long we take, and not knowing how to make the session flow, or feel confident throughout. 

So, in today's post, I am going to do my darn best to make sure that you feel calm and in control during your next photography session. 

Let's get going shall we? Read on! 

Have you ever considered starting a newborn photography business, but just aren't sure how you would get enough clients? Or perhaps you already are in business but are finding it difficult to grow and get enough sales?  Then today is your lucky day!  I've asked Erin from the fabulous Sixth Bloom blog to give some tips on how to make your newborn photography business a successful one. Over to Erin! 

This is the first post we have done on the business side of photography and we are going to kick off with branding your photography business. As I was a Business Development Consultant for many years before I stopped work to start a family, I figured it was time to mix my knowledge of photography and business into one post - I'd love to know what you think!

In a nutshell, your brand is what differentiates you from other businesses.  It should tell people who you are, what you do, and what they can expect from you.  Branding includes your logo, your website, your packaging, your promotional materials and even your writing tone and personality. For a photography business, obviously your brand should also communicate your photography style. 

For those of you who are taking their first steps with a photography business, you may wonder how to create a photography website.  A website for your business is a must: it allows you to be found by prospective clients searching the web, but also gives you a place to show off your work, and offer clients more insight into why they should hire you. All in all, it's a great marketing tool, and one you definitely need. 

However, I know there can be some confusion about where to start when looking at how to create a photography website, so in this post, I hope to break down what you need, step by step, and also give you some options to consider at the end, so you can get the perfect photography website for your business! 

A portfolio is simply a collection of images that you bring together to show a body of work.  You can create a portfolio for several reasons, for example, to show to prospective clients your style on your photography business website, or to apply for work, or just to accepted into a body of professionals. If you are a hobbyist, don't for one second think that you can't have a portfolio! It's a great way of seeing patterns in your work both good and bad. It can show you what you need to work on, or whether you have a style that you didn't even know you had! In short, a portfolio is for any photographer, at any level. 

Here's what to do to create a portfolio: